My Dream For All of Us

Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Can you believe that at 57 years of age I had never read his “I Have A Dream” speech … until today. I will bet that I am not the only one. Matter of fact, I imagine that there are many of us. His speech is as old as I am, and although so much has changed, too much has stayed the same. How else can you explain Meghan Markle and Harry, Duke of Sussex leaving their home and royal duties because of blatant racism and constant criticism directed at the bi-racial member of the royal family?

Sadly, they continue to be criticized because they chose to protect their child from the ignorance of the world. Isn’t that what good parents do? I know it happened in England, but it could have been anywhere, including the United States of America. I recently wrote a blog about racism on college campuses, so I know it exists here, and sadly, amongst our youth.

Although I can’t personally speak to what it was like in 1963, I would like to pay homage to Dr. King and write my own speech about a dream … my dream. One that I hope and pray will come true before I die. A speech that will only be heard by me reading it aloud. A dream I want to share with you, my children, grandchildren, and the world.

Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

My Dream For Children

I have a dream that my grandchildren and their children will have an Earth in which they can grow and not worry about the air they breathe. A hope the water will be clean enough to drink and their food healthy to eat. I pray farms will prosper and animals will be treated humanely. That there will be trees to climb and lakes to swim in.

I have a dream that one-day ignorance will be a smaller, less-known word in the dictionary. If the kids are taught at a young age about our individual differences, they would understand and acknowledge that although we may praise, look, or learn differently, everyone deserves respect.

A dream where children in inner cities will feel like they have more choices than what gang they need to be in to survive, which I believe, can be changed with a stronger education. Not disregarded with cuts in school budgets or disacknowledged because their test scores aren’t high enough.

Education, I believe, is the key to so many of the problems of the world. It isn’t just about spelling and math, but the life skills and humanity.

I dream children will be taught manners again and respect for adults, not the self-entitlement that seems rampant today. It won’t matter what kind of car you drive or how big your house is, but what kind of morals drive you and how big your heart is. That it won’t be important how much money you make, but that you are a respectful member of society. I hope they will learn that it isn’t about being better than the next person, but being a good person.

A Hope For Everyone

I have a dream that all men – regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, and disabilities will be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is my hope they will be able to live the life they choose peacefully and safely without fear. I have a dream that the word men can be changed to men and women or better yet, humans. After all, we are all from one race … the human race.

I don’t want to say that we won’t see color. That is a lesson I learned from my kids and wrote about it in my racism blog. But we see the color, learn about its origin, and see the beauty in all of God’s creatures.

Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have a dream that this vicious cycle of party politics stops. That it isn’t just democrats or republicans running this country, and that lines are undrawn. That we can have a belief and not be labeled. I hope that one day we will all listen to each other talk, compromise more and make decisions based on the greater good of what is fair and just for all humans.

I pray that corporate greed will no longer have more of a say in what governs this country. That generosity and good will towards the less advantaged becomes more important.

I have a dream that we have a better system in place for the elderly or disabled. It isn’t fair that people work hard their whole lives to be misplaced or have no place to go. There is little help available in their later years without giving up everything they have worked so hard to achieve … their dignity taken away.

I wish people would realize that reality TV is completely unrealistic. Maybe if we went out and lived in the real world, we would appreciate it’s beauty and the differences instead of believing everything we see and hear on television.

My dream is that people will realize how much crime is born of societal pressures and how those same demands are increasing mental illness.

I truly believe that if we are all more kind, respectful, tolerant and accepting human beings with bigger hearts, so many of the cancers that are destroying us would not exist or at least be less prevalent.

I say to you today, my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream that is deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (humans) are created equal.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

I, too, have that dream, Mr. King … I wonder if you realized 57 years ago how prevalent this speech would still be today. I am sure you hoped it wouldn’t be, but your dream still lives in the hearts and minds of others, and now mine. Happy Birthday to you and my present is to do my best to make our dreams come true.

This is my dream! What’s yours?

Much Love and Peace to you always,

Sandy

#enlighten #inspire #educate #empower and always #BeKind